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2024-12-31 13:32:34Related chapters
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Cold War
Chapter 25: Thorne's POVBut in this quiet villa, there was something that almost salvaged my soul, far from nightmares and chaos. My insomnia, which once got me pacing through long nights, had faded, as had the relentless anxiety that seemed to dog my steps. I could breathe once more, think with clarity, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was able to rest fearlessly.Yet, there was a hollowness in everything. My memories still sat tight, out of reach. I knew they held answers—truths about who I was, what I had done, and why I was here—but for now, I didn't push. This peace, so rare, was too precious to shatter with more questions.Still, the days stretched long and empty. Garrett was gone much of the time, wrapped up in the dark dealings of his world, a world I had no desire to return to. The violence, the manipulation-it repelled me now. I couldn't square it with the man who came into focus during those quieter moments-the one bringing tea and not straying when
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Under The Mask Of My Enemy Relief
Chapter 26: Garrett's POVThat night, I had no idea what to expect. Thorne had been standoffish all day, ignoring me with a coldness that sat wrong in my stomach. Usually, he'd give me those small, subtle hints if something was wrong-like his silence or the way he would avoid my eyes. But tonight, as I stepped into the bedroom, I was prepared for him to ignore me, to pretend I wasn't even there.But he didn't turn away when I entered. He was sitting up in bed, his posture much more relaxed than it had been in days. He looked at me a long moment, then, without saying anything, shifted over to give me space. It wasn't much, but it was enough for me to realize he wasn't going to keep fighting me. He had softened.I just stood there, not knowing how to reach out to him. The tension in the room was still thick, but it wasn't as cold a barrier as it had been. I could feel something shift between us, but I wasn't sure what.First spoke Thorne. "Garrett," he said, quieter than he commonly spo
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Under The Mask Of My Enemy Intimacy
Chapter 27: Thorne's POVThe night air was so thick with unsaid words and tension that it could wrap itself around the room and just not let go. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window at the weak moonlight filtering through the curtains. The coldness of the day still lingered, and the sharp edge of Garrett's silence cut deeper than the words could ever cut.The creaking of the door opening startled me, and my head jerked up. There he was-Garrett. He stood in the doorway, his shoulders tense, his gaze heavy with something I couldn't quite name. He didn't move, and for a moment, I wondered if he'd simply turn and walk away again.But then he stepped inside, his movements deliberate, the door clicking softly shut behind him.Garrett," I said, my voice slicing through the silence that had stretched between us all day to unbearable lengths.He didn't say anything for a minute. Instead, he crossed the room in a few long strides, stopping directly in front of me. His hands re
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Under The Mask Of My Enemy Shadows Of The Past
Chapter 28This nightmare came with no warning at all, tugging me out of that fragile cocoon of sleep I'd managed to wrap around myself after the emotionally draining night with Garrett. The dream was just so real-so visceral-the initial feeling when I woke was not about knowing where I was. It took a few moments for my mind to sort out just exactly if I was still dreaming or finally awake.I felt the grain beneath me; I was five again and stood at the window of our old house, peering out into the black night. It was raining hard, blowing as if in howls; I was waiting-just for them to come home. A birthday hat sat crooked on my head, its strings pulling uncomfortably at my neck. I remembered clutching the little handmade card I’d spent all day working on, the one with the misspelled words and clumsy drawings. I’d wanted to show it to them so badly.In my dream, I still hear my own childish voice, insistent and pleading, "You have to come home! It's my birthday! You promised!" I didn't
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Under The Mask Of My Enemy Burdened Memories
Chapter 29: Garrett's PovIt was a long and exhausting morning; my head was still blurry from last night, for which it wasn't the least prepared to hear from Thorne what he actually had to say.The soft shuffle of footsteps hit behind my back, and without even looking further, I already knew him since his presence in my life-an anchor, welcome or not-loomed well amidst the world around me. But there was a difference in the air, surrounding him today. The feeling inside him was monumental, weighty, something that spoke of a titanic shift. I instinctively could feel the rising tension inside my body as I knew he needed to say.When he finally spoke, his voice was low, uncertain, almost like testing the waters. "Garrett," he said, his words drawing me in completely, "I remember… some things.I froze, the fork I had been holding midway to the plate of eggs in my hand. My heartbeat faltered for a moment. A memory. His memory. It was a long time since he started recovering it, but now… now
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Day For Us
Chapter 30: A Day for UsGarrett's POVWhat had shaken me more than it should have was Thorne's confession of his childhood-a story not so much about what happened, but how it was told in a quavering voice, the weight of years of pain apparent in every word. The memory had branded him; the scars ran so deeply that I doubted he even knew how much it still hurt.Days went by, and I just couldn't seem to get it out of my head. This little boy, Thorne, hopeful and excited as he waits for his parents and then will never see them again-that haunted me. That wasn't fair. He was too young to be forced to carry the weight of that horror with him throughout his life. Yet, he had borne it silently, without complaint, letting it color his life in ways he never should have had to endure.I couldn't change the past, but maybe-just maybe-I could give him something new to remember.It struck in the dark of night as I sat and stared out the window: an amusement park-a simple thing of innocence-but to
Last Updated : 2025-01-02Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Gift From The Heart
Chapter 31: A Gift from the HeartThorne's POVRecovery of my memories had been bittersweet all these days. These flashes of the past were small victories, which keep hinting that I am not so lost after all. Of course, each memory brought a wee bit of pain with it and more importantly, brought me a little closer to myself. No longer was this about reclaiming my past but all about building a future that I could be proud of. And the future, at the moment, included Garrett.One evening, when it was quiet, I was standing in the kitchen. Oliver was laying the silverware for dinner, very precise, as always, his movements slow and smooth. I leaned against the counter, lost in thought."Oliver," I said hesitantly into the silence."Yes, Master Thorne?" he replied, not looking up from his task."When is Garrett's birthday?The only sound that followed was the clatter of a spoon against a tray. Oliver straightened and turned to me, an inquisitive look upon his face."It's next month," he stated
Last Updated : 2025-01-03Under The Mask Of My Enemy Mission
Chapter 32: Thorne's POVWith Oliver's help, I slipped away from the villa without being noticed. Each step felt as though I was treading on thin ice, but it was something that had to be done. Garrett mustn't find out about this meeting. If he did, then it would all be over. My chest was heavy with tension, but I moved ahead, following Oliver's lead as we went along the hidden paths leading to the meeting point.After a number of turns and bends, we reached a nondescript building at the outskirts of the city, standing almost concealed by the growth of a copse of trees. It looked so nondescript, but I know by now not to look at appearances. Oliver stood at the door, impassive, as he waited for me to precede him into the room. "Remember, Thorne, you have only half an hour. Don't push your luck.".I nodded in acknowledgment, offering a tight smile before pushing open the door and stepping inside. The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with scents of wood and leather. It was a place of pri
Last Updated : 2025-01-04
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Under The Mask Of My Enemy Mission
Chapter 32: Thorne's POVWith Oliver's help, I slipped away from the villa without being noticed. Each step felt as though I was treading on thin ice, but it was something that had to be done. Garrett mustn't find out about this meeting. If he did, then it would all be over. My chest was heavy with tension, but I moved ahead, following Oliver's lead as we went along the hidden paths leading to the meeting point.After a number of turns and bends, we reached a nondescript building at the outskirts of the city, standing almost concealed by the growth of a copse of trees. It looked so nondescript, but I know by now not to look at appearances. Oliver stood at the door, impassive, as he waited for me to precede him into the room. "Remember, Thorne, you have only half an hour. Don't push your luck.".I nodded in acknowledgment, offering a tight smile before pushing open the door and stepping inside. The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with scents of wood and leather. It was a place of pri
Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Gift From The Heart
Chapter 31: A Gift from the HeartThorne's POVRecovery of my memories had been bittersweet all these days. These flashes of the past were small victories, which keep hinting that I am not so lost after all. Of course, each memory brought a wee bit of pain with it and more importantly, brought me a little closer to myself. No longer was this about reclaiming my past but all about building a future that I could be proud of. And the future, at the moment, included Garrett.One evening, when it was quiet, I was standing in the kitchen. Oliver was laying the silverware for dinner, very precise, as always, his movements slow and smooth. I leaned against the counter, lost in thought."Oliver," I said hesitantly into the silence."Yes, Master Thorne?" he replied, not looking up from his task."When is Garrett's birthday?The only sound that followed was the clatter of a spoon against a tray. Oliver straightened and turned to me, an inquisitive look upon his face."It's next month," he stated
Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Day For Us
Chapter 30: A Day for UsGarrett's POVWhat had shaken me more than it should have was Thorne's confession of his childhood-a story not so much about what happened, but how it was told in a quavering voice, the weight of years of pain apparent in every word. The memory had branded him; the scars ran so deeply that I doubted he even knew how much it still hurt.Days went by, and I just couldn't seem to get it out of my head. This little boy, Thorne, hopeful and excited as he waits for his parents and then will never see them again-that haunted me. That wasn't fair. He was too young to be forced to carry the weight of that horror with him throughout his life. Yet, he had borne it silently, without complaint, letting it color his life in ways he never should have had to endure.I couldn't change the past, but maybe-just maybe-I could give him something new to remember.It struck in the dark of night as I sat and stared out the window: an amusement park-a simple thing of innocence-but to
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Burdened Memories
Chapter 29: Garrett's PovIt was a long and exhausting morning; my head was still blurry from last night, for which it wasn't the least prepared to hear from Thorne what he actually had to say.The soft shuffle of footsteps hit behind my back, and without even looking further, I already knew him since his presence in my life-an anchor, welcome or not-loomed well amidst the world around me. But there was a difference in the air, surrounding him today. The feeling inside him was monumental, weighty, something that spoke of a titanic shift. I instinctively could feel the rising tension inside my body as I knew he needed to say.When he finally spoke, his voice was low, uncertain, almost like testing the waters. "Garrett," he said, his words drawing me in completely, "I remember… some things.I froze, the fork I had been holding midway to the plate of eggs in my hand. My heartbeat faltered for a moment. A memory. His memory. It was a long time since he started recovering it, but now… now
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Shadows Of The Past
Chapter 28This nightmare came with no warning at all, tugging me out of that fragile cocoon of sleep I'd managed to wrap around myself after the emotionally draining night with Garrett. The dream was just so real-so visceral-the initial feeling when I woke was not about knowing where I was. It took a few moments for my mind to sort out just exactly if I was still dreaming or finally awake.I felt the grain beneath me; I was five again and stood at the window of our old house, peering out into the black night. It was raining hard, blowing as if in howls; I was waiting-just for them to come home. A birthday hat sat crooked on my head, its strings pulling uncomfortably at my neck. I remembered clutching the little handmade card I’d spent all day working on, the one with the misspelled words and clumsy drawings. I’d wanted to show it to them so badly.In my dream, I still hear my own childish voice, insistent and pleading, "You have to come home! It's my birthday! You promised!" I didn't
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Intimacy
Chapter 27: Thorne's POVThe night air was so thick with unsaid words and tension that it could wrap itself around the room and just not let go. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window at the weak moonlight filtering through the curtains. The coldness of the day still lingered, and the sharp edge of Garrett's silence cut deeper than the words could ever cut.The creaking of the door opening startled me, and my head jerked up. There he was-Garrett. He stood in the doorway, his shoulders tense, his gaze heavy with something I couldn't quite name. He didn't move, and for a moment, I wondered if he'd simply turn and walk away again.But then he stepped inside, his movements deliberate, the door clicking softly shut behind him.Garrett," I said, my voice slicing through the silence that had stretched between us all day to unbearable lengths.He didn't say anything for a minute. Instead, he crossed the room in a few long strides, stopping directly in front of me. His hands re
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Relief
Chapter 26: Garrett's POVThat night, I had no idea what to expect. Thorne had been standoffish all day, ignoring me with a coldness that sat wrong in my stomach. Usually, he'd give me those small, subtle hints if something was wrong-like his silence or the way he would avoid my eyes. But tonight, as I stepped into the bedroom, I was prepared for him to ignore me, to pretend I wasn't even there.But he didn't turn away when I entered. He was sitting up in bed, his posture much more relaxed than it had been in days. He looked at me a long moment, then, without saying anything, shifted over to give me space. It wasn't much, but it was enough for me to realize he wasn't going to keep fighting me. He had softened.I just stood there, not knowing how to reach out to him. The tension in the room was still thick, but it wasn't as cold a barrier as it had been. I could feel something shift between us, but I wasn't sure what.First spoke Thorne. "Garrett," he said, quieter than he commonly spo
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Cold War
Chapter 25: Thorne's POVBut in this quiet villa, there was something that almost salvaged my soul, far from nightmares and chaos. My insomnia, which once got me pacing through long nights, had faded, as had the relentless anxiety that seemed to dog my steps. I could breathe once more, think with clarity, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was able to rest fearlessly.Yet, there was a hollowness in everything. My memories still sat tight, out of reach. I knew they held answers—truths about who I was, what I had done, and why I was here—but for now, I didn't push. This peace, so rare, was too precious to shatter with more questions.Still, the days stretched long and empty. Garrett was gone much of the time, wrapped up in the dark dealings of his world, a world I had no desire to return to. The violence, the manipulation-it repelled me now. I couldn't square it with the man who came into focus during those quieter moments-the one bringing tea and not straying when
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Trust
Chapter 24: Garrett's POVLate into the night, the waves lapping softly against the shore serenaded the villa, but even this usually soothed me not. My gaze had been on a figure next to me, Thorne, whose pallor belied even sleep. His brows furrowed, and his breathing came out uneven. He stirred and murmured something unintelligibly, his fingers convulsing against the sheets.Another nightmare.It had been the same every night this past week. Thorne's injuries had healed, but his mind seemed in turmoil, something unseen gnawing on it. Every night, he woke in cold sweats, his wide eyes darting across the room, as if searching for threats that were not there.And each time, I was left helplessly standing by.I'd tried everything: reading to him, staying up with him when he woke, and even bringing in relaxing oils to calm the atmosphere of the villa. None of it seemed to work. The nightmares still came, and I could literally feel the tension in him accrue day by day.What really unnerved
